Sophie's Farm
Caroline Xue (2015)
January 2019 Trip
I first visited Sophie’s Farm in December 2015 after my final year at Sacré Cœur as one of eight girls in the Class of 2015 participating in the immersion program. It gave us a brief peek into how the sisters and volunteers live and work with the community of Doña Lucia, an experience I wouldn’t hesitate to describe as life-changing.
After recruiting a group of six passionate medical students, I returned at the beginning of 2018 with TeamMED, the non-profit student-run global health club at Monash University. With the help of Sr Lydia, Dr Ginger and many other kind volunteers, we were exposed to the regional healthcare system in Northern Samar. Through fundraising and partnership with Melbourne University Health Initiative (MUHI), we were able to contribute material aid to the provincial and regional hospitals.
During our two-week stay, we engaged local families in educational health promotion activities regarding hand and dental hygiene, first aid and basic medications. Through TeamMED, I coordinated another trip in January 2019, and now another group is set to go in 2020. I was so touched to learn that the teachers at Sacred Heart Learning Centre (SHLC) were still teaching the young students our hand-washing song!
I hope this can grow to become a sustainable partnership that responds to the needs of both communities sensitively and supportively. There are endless opportunities for learning and growth to which any person can contribute their individual skills and personality. I look forward to returning to the Philippines this December to explore Northern Samar and other regions.
Meredith Kain (past parent)
Meredith has been visiting Sophie's Farm, the RSCJ community in the Philippines which Sacré Cœur supports, for many years. During her time there she participates in community life while assisting the village women with cooking, weaving and sewing skills.
She has recently arrived for another visit and you can follow her inspiring journey via facebook
